Economic Development

City Planning

VISIT DENVER is the premier source of information about Denver's hot spots, visitor attractions, cultural events, hotels, and more. For a comprehensive listing of things to do in Denver, visit www.visitdenver.com

Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC)

City Council Bill 44 (2009)

In pertinent part, this bill states:

Notwithstanding any Career Service rule to the contrary, during fiscal year 2009, no merit increases in excess of one step for Performance Enhancement Plan Reports (PEPRs) due in 2009 shall be awarded to any employee in the Career Service…Employees who would have been entitled to receive more than a one step merit increase under the Career Service rules for a PEPR due in 2009 will only receive a one step increase under this provision. In re Vasquez and Lewis, CSA ## 08-09, 09-09, 3 (5/20/09).

Code of Ethics - In general

Appellants’ admission that they did not request permission in advance before soliciting business for their own company proved a violation of this section of the code. In re Sawyer and Sproul, CSA 33-08, 15 (1/27/09).

The City has a legitimate interest in maintaining the public's confidence in the integrity of public service. In re Schultz, CSA 156-04, 8 (6/20/05); citing Crandon v. United States, 110 S. Ct. 997, 1005 (1990).

Conduct violates the spirit of the ethics code if it would cause the public to lose confidence that public employees are acting in the public interest. In re Schultz, CSA 156-04, 9 (6/20/05).

The value of an item accepted by a city employee and its potential to influence public action are relevant to a determination of whether an employee created an appearance of impropriety. In re Schultz, CSA 156-04, 9 (6/20/05), citing Wells v. Dept. of Defense, 53 MSPR 637 (1992).

Employee’s removal of a vendor’s pen from supervisor's office would not create an appearance of private gain to a reasonable person who learned of it. In re Schultz, CSA 156-04, 9 (6/20/05).

Knowledge that an employee requested pens from a city vendor, or requested zoo tickets or special zoo tours, is not likely to harm the public's perception of city employees or create an impression of misuse of the privilege of city employment, and therefore does not violate city ethics code. In re Schultz, CSA 156-04, 9 (6/20/05).

Appellant violated City’s ethics rule, DRMC Article IV, sec. 2.60, Gifts for officers, officials and employees, where she: was a City employee; wrongfully solicited and accepted free equipment replacement; was in a position to take direct official action; accepted a thing of value without adequate compensation and the City had a contractual relationship with the vendor. In re Roybal, 60-11, 9 (3/13/12).

2-67: Use of public office for private gain.

Appellant violated ordinance where she used her position to help her sister’s fraudulent application for public assistance. In re Abdi, CSA 63-07, 29 (2/19/08).

Based on the legislative history of the whistleblower ordinance indicating that it was intended to mesh well with state whistleblower law and their use of similar wording, state case law interpreting the Colorado statute is persuasive authority in construing the intended meaning of the ordinance. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 59-60 (6/17/10).

Placement of an employee on investigatory leave is withholding of work under the whistleblower ordinance. In re Muller, CSA 48-08, 2 (CSB 10/24/08).

When an agency tells an employee not to contact co-workers during investigation of his mismanagement claim, such agency action may be viewed as an indirect form of discipline or penalty within the broad scope of the whistleblower ordinance. In re Muller, CSA 48-08, 2 (CSB 10/24/08).

Rule permitting placement of employee on investigatory leave pending an investigation of a possible rule violation or failure to meet performance standards obviously contemplates the placement of the target of the investigation on leave, not the whistleblower. In re Muller, CSA 48-08, 2 (CSB 10/24/08), citing § 16-30.

Civil rights cases cited by agency for the proposition that placing an employee on investigatory leave is not an adverse employment action are inapplicable, as they do not define an adverse action in the context of the broader language used by city council in providing protection for whistleblowers. In re Muller, CSA 48-08, 2 (CSB 10/24/08).

Fact that investigatory leave was not in conformity with § 16-30 adds further support to the board’s finding that agency’s placement of whistleblower on investigatory leave was an adverse employment action. In re Muller, CSA 48-08, 2 (CSB 10/24/08).

Whistleblower ordinance definition of adverse employment action is broadly worded to include not only the adverse agency actions specified in the ordinance, but any direct or indirect form of discipline or penalty, or the threat of discipline or penalty. In re Muller, CSA 48-08 (7/24/08), citing DRMC 2-107(b).

In the light most favorable to appellant, placement of appellant on investigatory leave within minutes of his complaint of mismanagement alleges an adverse action sufficient to state a claim for relief under whistleblower ordinance. In re Muller, CSA 48-08 (7/24/08).

A whistleblower claim is established by proof that 1) an employee disclosed official misconduct to an appropriate reporting authority, 2) the agency imposed or threatened to impose an adverse action, and 3) the disclosure was a substantial or motivating factor for the adverse action. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 27 - 28 (9/17/10), citing In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 59 (6/17/10).

Director’s imposition of verbal reprimand for appellant’s statements at a meeting is a convincing indication that director did not view the statements as serious misconduct. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

A whistleblower claim is established by proof that 1) an employee disclosed official misconduct to an appropriate reporting authority, 2) the agency imposed or threatened to impose an adverse action, and 3) the disclosure was a substantial or motivating factor for the adverse action. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 27 - 28 (9/17/10), citing In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 59 (6/17/10).

Director’s imposition of verbal reprimand for appellant’s statements at a meeting is a convincing indication that director did not view the statements as serious misconduct. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

Legislative history of whistleblower ordinance shows that its intent is to protect reports of actual wrongdoing as opposed to disputes that are really personnel matters, and to discourage frivolous reporting. In re Steward, CSA 18-08 (4/11/08).

2-107 d) Official misconduct

Appellant’s statement at a meeting in opposition to a proposal that was never implemented was not a disclosure of official misconduct because it did not communicate the commission of an act that employee reasonably believed was official misconduct. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

Appellant failed to establish that director selected appellant for layoff based on her statements at a meeting in opposition to director’s proposal. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

Appellant’s statement to ethics board that private contractor had a conflict of interest was not a disclosure of official misconduct, which must be an act or omission by a city officer or employee. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 29 (9/17/10).

Appellant’s statement at a meeting in opposition to a proposal that was never implemented was not a disclosure of official misconduct because it did not communicate the commission of an act that appellant reasonably believed was official misconduct. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

Appellant failed to establish that director selected appellant for layoff where director was ordered by mayor to abolish positions, and director took no part in actions in lieu of lay-off. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 28 (9/17/10).

Appellant’s statement to ethics board that private contractor had a conflict of interest was not a disclosure of official misconduct, which must be an act or omission by a city officer or employee. In re Hamilton, CSA 100-09, 29 (9/17/10).

A six-week delay in installing a reconciliation function into an unfinished IVR design did not constitute fiscal misconduct under the fiscal accountability rules. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 62-63 (6/17/10).

An allegation of misconduct by a contractor does not assert official misconduct by a city officer or employee, as required to prove whistleblower violation. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 63 (6/17/10).

Allegation that manager tried to delay appellant's report to the auditor of contract mismanagement was not supported by the evidence, and did not establish report of official misconduct under whistleblower ordinance. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 64 (6/17/10).

The ordinance's use of the word mismanagement in a list which includes violations of law, rules, ethics and abuse of authority, indicates an intent to target serious violations of the standards affecting public employees and the larger interests of the citizens of Denver. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 66 (6/17/10).

Mistakes or even neglect by a city employee in performing his work, without more, do not rise to the level of the type of misconduct targeted by the whistleblower ordinance. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 66 (6/17/10).

Mistakes or oversights during administration of a lengthy service contract that are resolvable by contract amendments or other means are not the type of significant misconduct addressed by the whistleblower ordinance. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 66 (6/17/10).

Mere citation of rules is insufficient to allege that suspension was based on employee's disclosure of official misconduct for purposes of establishing whistleblower jurisdiction. In re Moore, CSA 21-10 (Order 5/26/10).

Disagreement about the basis for discipline and complaints about supervisor's treatment of employee do not allege official misconduct. In re Moore, CSA 21-10 (Order 5/26/10).

“Official misconduct” means any act or omission by any officer or employee that constitutes 1) a violation of law, 2) a violation of any applicable rule, regulation or executive order, 3) a violation of the code of ethics or any other applicable ethical rules and standards, 4) the misuse, misallocation, mismanagement or waste of any city funds or other city assets, or 5) an abuse of official authority. In re Steward, CSA 18-08 (4/11/08).

Existence of mold in workplace is not by itself a violation of law, rule or regulation necessary to prove official misconduct under whistleblower ordinance. In re Steward, CSA 18-08 (4/11/08).

Discussions between employee and supervisor about working conditions that do not assert official misconduct are not disclosures protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act. In re Steward, CSA 18-08 (4/11/08).

Even if an official’s future action with regard to reported mold in the workplace issue is found to violate a law or regulation, an employee’s initial report of the problem to his supervisor is not thereby rendered a disclosure of official misconduct under the ordinance. In re Steward, CSA 18-08 (4/11/08).

Hearing office does not have jurisdiction to hear whistleblower appeal supported only by a pre-disciplinary letter, which is not an adverse employment action. In re Thomas, CSA 13-10 (Order 3/15/10).

A claim under the Whistleblower ProtectionOrdinance is raised by allegations that 1) a supervisor imposed or threatened to impose 2) an adverse employment action upon an employee 3) on account of the employee’s disclosure of information about any official misconduct to any person. In re Steward,CSA 18-08 (4/11/08), citingIn re Wehmhoefer, CSA 2-08 (2/14/08); D.R.M.C. § 2-108.

Evidence did not support conclusion that appellant reasonably believed a city official or contractor caused or could have caused a default on city bond or distortion of city financial reports, and disclosure occurred after the adverse action. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 62 (6/17/10).

Since allegation of contract mismanagement by the agency was not disclosed until after adverse actions were imposed, allegation could not have been the cause of the adverse actions. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 62 (6/17/10).

Appellant failed to prove that terms of investigative leave prevented her from making further disclosures of official misconduct. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 66 (6/17/10).

Since appellant made no disclosures of official misconduct until after the adverse employment actions, she failed to prove her disclosures were a substantial or motivating factor for any of the adverse actions. In re Harrison, CSA 55-07, 68 (6/17/10).

Denver’s career service system provides for merit-based appointment of applicants and performance-based retention of city employees. In re Sample, CSA 72-07, 5-6 (6/12/08), citingCity Charter §1.2.1.rev’d on other grounds, CSB 10/16/08.

Appeal filed three years after agency action is untimely when appellant received paycheck in Nov. 2001 giving him notice of agency’s failure to give him 6.9% pay increase for serving in acting capacity in higher job classification. In re Gibbons, CSA 49-05 (8/17/05) (decided under former § 18-12).

Appellant’s notice of adverse agency action was proven by his request for pay increase three times after receiving paycheck without 6.9% raise for higher job classification. In re Gibbons, CSA 49-05 (8/17/05) (decided under former § 18-12).

Appellant’s failure to timely file his grievance of his “meets expectations” PEPR he claimed was retaliatory deprives the hearing officer of jurisdiction to hear the retaliation claim. In re Schultz, CSA 78-05, 2 (8/15/05) (decided under former §§ 18-12, 19-10).

Where appellant claims that a PEPR rating was retaliatory, a grievance filed based on that claim is not appealable unless appellant complies with the grievance procedure under Rule 18. In re Schultz, 78-05 (Order 8/15/05).

When appellant filed his second-step grievance late, hearing officer was without jurisdiction to hear appeal. In re Schultz, CSA 78-05 (8/15/05) (decided under former § 18-12).

Grievance filed over five months after action giving rise to grievance is untimely, and therefore hearing officer has no jurisdiction over appeal of grievance.In re Mullen, CSA 72-05 (8/9/05) (decided under former § 18-12).

An employee may grieve a written reprimand, but may not appeal the unfavorable disposition of the grievance even though there is no alternative forum for appeal. In re Black, CSA 16-09 (Order 3/12/09).

A sheriff department major became de facto acting division chief for three months, entitling him to acting pay, where the acting director delegated his authority to a division chief, and the division chief re-delegated his authority to a major by asking him to “run the Division” call him only “if anything big happens,” and the major performed all division chief duties. In re Anderson, Connors, 61-10, 63-10, 66-10, 67-10, 5-6 (12/22/2010).